Welcome to a Comprehensive guide and Review to the walt disney world swan and dolphin resorts!
You've probably landed here because you're considering a stay at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resort during your next Walt Disney World Resort vacation.
Well you're in the right place!
That's because not only do I give a review of our family's stay there, but share all the information you need to know about the resorts. This is to help you make an informed decision if this resort is right for your family or not.
When I'm personally researching hotel and resort reviews I want ALL the facts about it. The good, bad, details,—not just the personal opinion of the reviewer. I want to know everything to guide me to decide to if this is the right hotel for my family.
Because we all have different families, preferences and needs when we're making the big decision to book a hotel. So what may be right for one family and sway their review and/or decision making, may or may not be right for mine.
These "reviews" are not just my personal reviews, but a guide —the most comprehensive guide in my humble opinion—on the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort hotels.
I give you all the information I want to know myself about the resorts and have already asked so you don't have to.
In this Post you will find all the Information you're seeking about the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resorts such as family and sleeping amenities, swimming pools, restaurants on property, etc.
Make sure to keep reading till the end for my final notes and official review!
Hotel Overview
Location
The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resorts are located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
Lake Buena Vista is inside the Walt Disney World Resort, and about a 25-minute drive from Orlando International Airport.
The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts are in the Epcot Resort area of Walt Disney World Resort. They are on Walt Disney World property, in the Boardwalk area.
For my family, the location of these resorts is also one of the highlights. We love the Boardwalk area in Walt Disney World Resort as there is so much to do here! Not to mention it's absolutely gorgeous, especially lit up at night.
Price Point
The approximate price point of these hotels is mid-range, similar to a Moderate Resort on Walt Disney World Resort property.
Features
There are three unique features about the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts:
- The hotels are sister properties. So if you stay at one, you're more than welcome to wander over and use the amenities and restaurants at the other.
- They are Walt Disney World Resort hotels, so you have access to most of the same Disney benefits as other Walt Disney World Resort hotels on property.
- Even though they are Walt Disney World Resort hotels, they are Marriott owned, so you can also use your existing Marriott points and benefits here! You can also incur and rack up even more Marriott points by staying at these hotels on Walt Disney World Resort property!
For Kids and Families
There is so much for kids and families to do at Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotels!
Kids Club: Camp Dolphin
Kids ages 5-12 can be dropped off at the kids club, called Camp Dolphin, over at the Swan and Dolphin resort.
Guests of both the Swan and the Dolphin resorts can use the kids club.
Here, kids can enjoy supervise programs, games, toys, video games, etc. all from 4pm-11 pm., however reservations must be made for the evening hours.
Family Sleeping Amenities
The really great thing about staying at these resorts is that they are one of the only hotel properties in Orlando to accommodate 5 guests. So if you're a family of 5 there's no need to purchase two rooms!
Cribs and roll-away beds are available upon request should you need. I've also had luck before asking for toddler rails to be put on the bed when my kids were toddlers.
Mini-Golf Course
Yup, there's even a golf course right next to this property. It's the Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf center. One of the perks of staying at these resorts is that this gorgeous golf course is a very short walk away! On your resting, non-park day, you can easily walk right over and play a round of mini-golf with your family!
Pools
Between both the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts, there are a total of SIX pools!
That's a whole lotta pools!
Two amazing facts about the pools at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts:
- All the pools are different types. So they offer something for everyone. Do you want to sit under a waterfall and have water cascade over you? Maybe hide in a poolside grotto? How about relaxing and reading a book in an adults-only pool? Are you the one sliding down the waterslides? There's a different pool for each of these activities! Plus so much more! You can sit poolside and watch your kids play on a playground nearby. Or maybe you love playing beach volleyball and thought that was an activity you would have to forego in Central Florida? Nope! There's even a sand beach volleyball area on site!
- You can use the pools at both properties when you stay at one! Just because you're staying at the Walt Disney World Swan Resort doesn't mean you can't walk over to the Walt Disney World Dolphin resort and use their pools. Because you totally can!
The only partially negative note I'll add here—at least negative for my kids because they prefer resorts with water parks—is that there's no water park here.
When I say 'water park' I mean the in-pool playground with the multiple slides and tubes, splash pads, and other crazy contraptions designed to soak children as they play. BUT there are are a number of other water play areas, as well as a water slide, and a gorgeous bridge connecting the pools.
Are flotation devices offered for kids?
Life vests and water tubes are offered at the pools. Just ask a Cast Member on site!
Restaurants and Dining on Property
With two shared properties, it's not shocking that there would be a large number of dining options available.
Between both properties there are a total of 23 restaurants and lounges to choose from! So there's a good chance you won't have a hard time finding a place to eat, no matter what you're in the mood for!
The different types of cuisines range from American casual, to quick-service for breakfast, to Asian, Italian, etc.
I personally love that even though they are Marriott properties, we're still able to get some of our favorite Disney Resort foods, such as Mickey Waffles for breakfast easily!
Disney Dining Plan Not Accepted
However, one important note is that even though both properties are Walt Disney World Resort hotels, the Disney Dining Plan does not work here unfortunately. (The Disney Dining Plan reopened in January 2024.)
Services Offered
Transportation
Since the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts are Walt Disney World Resort properties, complimentary Walt Disney World Resort transportation is provided!
The Walt Disney World Resort shuttles can take you around all of Walt Disney World Resort–including the theme parks. Walt Disney World Resort shuttle bus is the method of transportation here.
As this resort is also in the Boardwalk area of Walt Disney World Resort, guests do have the option of using water taxi transportation. Water Taxi can be taken to Disney's Boardwalk Resort, Hollywood Studios, and Epcot.
Be sure to check all transportation times via the app to see the schedules for both shuttles and water taxi.
Do these resorts have access to Disney's Skyliner transportation?
No, they do not. But guests do have the option to transfer over to a resort that does have Skyliner access to use it!
For example, you could take the water taxi over to Disney's Boardwalk Resort. From there, walk over to the side of Disney's Beach Club Resort which has a short walking path over to Skyliner.
Another option is taking the shuttle or water taxi over to Epcot if you're headed into the park. Exit the back of the park close to the World Showcase where the Skyliner is.
What about airport transportation?
Just like all Walt Disney World Resorts, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts use Mears Connect to schedule airport transfers, for a fee. Click here to be transported to the Mears Connect website.
Walt Disney World Resort Benefits
Being Walt Disney World Resort Hotels, both the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts offer onsite Disney vacation planning.
At their Disney Vacation Planning Center they can help guests purchase theme park tickets, make dining reservations or check for dining availability, etc. It's very convenient to have the Disney vacation planning help when needed. We've used it ourselves before to ask about various park related questions!
Other benefits include Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Theme Park Hours for both Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts.
Resort Services Offered
Laundry Services are offered, at a small fee.
Parking is not free onsite, but costs $36 for self-parking and $40 for valet. However, another Walt Disney World Resort property perk is that parking at general parking at the Walt Disney World Resort theme parks is free. All you have to to is show the parking gate attendant your room key to prove that you're staying onsite at these resorts for the parking benefit.
There is an automatic on-site resort fee of $40.
Rana's Final Notes and Review
My Review
My family loves the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts so much.
The location close to the Boardwalk and in the Epcot area (which is our favorite Walt Disney World Resort park) is a big plus for us. There's so much to do in this one area alone, that it makes it worthwhile staying here just so you have endless entertainment options on non-park days.
We love the gorgeous pool area, and the amount of dining options there are, so we're never bored. I also like that my family can get their favorite Mickey waffles, and still have other non-Disney dining options available to.
One of our other favorite features is the amount of transportation options available with both shuttles and water taxis. In fact the only hard part about this might just be deciding which to take when getting around the Walt Disney World Resort. Transportation is definitely a plus here.
Which property do we prefer?
We've stayed at both the Swan Resort and the Dolphin resort. While we don't necessarily have a favorite, we do like each one for different reasons:
- The Walt Disney World Swan Resort—in my opinion—is a little bit more of the upscale of the two. It's a little bit nicer, feels more elegant, and much less crowded and quieter. So if you're looking for the quieter of the two hotels, I'd pick the Walt Disney World Swan.
- The Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort, on the other hand has more hustle and bustle. With so many families and kids around, plus a huge gathering pavilion in the center lobby, it can feel a little more crowded, and therefore a little bit less upscale than the Swan. These are just the vibes we get from both, but truthfully you can't go wrong with staying at either one. Plus remember staying at one gives you complete resort access to both!
Another of our favorite things about staying at either the Walt Disney World Swan and the Walt Disney World Dolphin resorts, is that staying here gains us Marriott points! We're Marriott Bonvoy members (which everyone should really consider joining) so staying here not only gives us Walt Disney World Resort Hotel access, but also Marriott benefits as well! It's truly the best of both worlds!
Are there any areas of improvement?
The only thing I feel can be improved on both these resorts is that they do need to undergo a bit of a refurbishment.
We've stayed here multiple times, both a few years apart. On our most recent stay at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort we felt that the rooms had gone a little bit shabby since our last visit. This might also be because the hotel itself was still undergoing refurbishment, so one thing at a time.
But these are tiny aesthetic issues, and didn't take away from the hotel stay at all for us. We still thoroughly enjoyed out stay here.
Would we stay here again?
We would absolutely stay here again and again!
This post was about a comprehensive guide and Review of the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts.
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